A Bath school has sent a warning to its girl pupils, urging them to wear skirts at "the correct length."

Ralph Allen School put a message out to parents and carers this week via Facebook, asking them to check the length of their child's skirt before they leave the house in the morning.

The Facebook post from Monday (June 5) reads: "Parents/carers - please help! We are reinforcing to girl students the correct length of their skirts.

"The hem of the skirt should be no more than a planner's width from the knee when the student is kneeling down. We will be asking students whose skirts are too short to unroll the tops or to wear an alternative the next day.

"We need parents to help too - check your daughter's skirt length before she leaves for school in the morning and ensure it is no shorter than it should be. Impress upon our students that they should wear correct length skirts.

"Thanks in advance for your help."

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Since the post was published, the school drew criticism for targeting girls skirts. But the school said: "The last two terms the focus has been on boys' shirts being tucked in. We have found that it is more successful to target one thing at a time, so all staff can help to reinforce the uniform guidelines together."

Responding to the call, Janet Fernihough said: "I wholeheartedly support this policy, if a school prescribes a uniform, pupils should wear it as prescribed."

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Alexander Nettle replied: "As senior students, myself and the head girl, Lizzie Maggs, have worked hard on gender equality over the year, with gender neutral uniforms a key part of that. They're definitely on the cards!"

And Ruth Haynes posted: "The idea of asking your daughter to kneel down to check a skirt length feels like an act of humiliation. It has essence of Margaret Atwood's Handmaiden's Tale."

The Ralph Allen website adds: "Ralph Allen requires students to wear uniform at all times. The uniform promotes a distinctive and appropriate appearance inside and outside Ralph Allen. The uniform requirements are intended to be clear and unambiguous.

For girls, it continues: "School skirts must be worn at the correct length."